Double-throw switch



June 8 1926. 1,588,359

G. LA M4 HAMMANN DOUBLE THROW SWITCH Filed July 18, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 @fw 'y y@ @mmf/14mg 0 U0 2 mm 3, u n u m m a w, Q n m 2 e n NH www a Mwl mwa @f H01 j@ mw f M Tu d EJ Amm LUl amm a 2 9 1 8 m m .m uw

Patented dune 1926,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE LA MONTE HAMMANN, OF TORRINGTON, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO RALPH K. MASON AND ONE-HALF T JOHN H. LANCASTER, BOTH 0F BANTAE, CONNECTICUT.

DOUBLE-THROW SWITCH.

Application led Iuly 18,

My invention relates primarily to improvenients in double throw switches and has reference more particularly to operating means therefor, the invention however being usable also in connection with single throw switches, if desired.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive switchoperating mechanism embodyingr spring means operative at either side olf a dead center position to either hold the switch closed or rapidly complete opening thereof, after initial starting toward open position, and also embodying novel bumper means for checking the parts when the switch has been thrown to its open position by the first named spring means.

A further object of the invention is to provide a construction in which the abovenamed spring means and the bumper means are duplicates, so that either one of them may act either as a bumper, Oras means for holding the switch closed or rapidly completing the opening movement thereof.

A still further object is to provide a construction which will require very few changes in the well-known types of switches now on the market.

A still further aim is to provide a unique 3e construction which is well adapted for use in connection with encased. switches.

lVith the foregoing in view, the invention resides in the novel subject matter hereinafter described and claimed, the description se being supplemented by the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a perspective View of an encased, double-throw switch embodying my improvements.

Figure 2 is a detail horizontal sectional view on a plane which will be obvious from an inspection of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the plane indicated by line 3 3 of Fig. 2..

Figure 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, with the exception that it illustrates the switchoperating means in one switch-closed position. In all of the-preceding views, the switch and its operating mechanism are 50 shown in neutral, switch-open position.

Figure 5 is an additional sectional vieu1 on the plane of line 5 5 of Fig. 2.

Figure 6 is a perspective view'showing a 1925.. Serial N0. 44,520.

number of the switch-operating parts in uxtaposition.

In the drawings above briefly described, showing the preferred form of the invention and its application to an encased doublethrow switch, the numeral 1 designates the switch casing having an appropriate hinged door 2. Mounted in the back of this casing, is an insulating base 3 which carries two sets of load contacts 4 and a set of intermediate posts or the like 5 to which the line Wires are connected. A plurality of pairs of switch blades 6 are provided, one pair being pivoted to each of the posts v5. The blades of each pair are held in an ular relation with each other by an insulating plate 7 riveted or otherwise secured thereto, and the outer edges of the several plates 7 are formed with notches 8 which receive a switch-operating rod 9, one end of which is directed laterally and pivoted to the side wall 10 of the casing, in any desired manner. The opposite side Wall 11 of this casing is formed with al circular opening 12 through which a hub 13 on an external operating handle 14 passes. A plate 15 is disposed at the inner 51de of the wall 11 andis formed with an opening 16 through which the hub 13 passes, said hub and plate being so` connected that the latter may be turned by means of the handle 14. This connection is preferably established by giving a fiatsided formation to the hub 13 and correspondingly forming the opening 16, the latter however being preferably somewhat larger than the hub, so that some degree of lost-motion is provided between the handle and the plate.

A switch-'operating plate 17 is disposed at the inner side of the plate 15 and is formed with an -openin 18 through which the hub 13 passes rotatly, said plate 17 being provided at an off-center point, with a lug 19 which projects laterally inward and is provided with an opening 20, in which the laterally turned end 21 of the rod 9 is secured, cotter pins or the like 22 being preferably passed through the rod end 21, at opposite sides of the lug 19, normally preventing movement of said rod end in the openinff 20, while permitting removal if necessary'. Another cotter pin 23 or some anale ous device, passes through an opening in t e inner end of the hub 13 and engages the inner side vices however, losing wider thanthe of the switch-operating plate 17, so that the parts 1l, 13, 1t, 15 and 1'? are held in assembled relation, yet may he quickly and easily disassembled it desired.

A lost-motion connection is provided hetween the plate 15 and the plate 17, such connection preferably comprising a stud 2d on one plate, received in a slot 25 in the other plate. 'llhe function or this lost-motion con-- nection and the similar connection estalilished between the hub 13 and the plate 15, will hereinafter become apparent.

ln the construction illustrated, the plate 17 is provided, at opposite sides ot its pivot (the hub 13) with two elongated guideways in the iorrn of slots 26 and 26a, these slots being disposed at angles to an 'imaginary line extending diametrically ci said plate. Moreover, in the construction illustrated, the two slots are arcuate, and they are in diverging relation with each other. it ltheir closely spaced or inner ends, the slots 26 and 26a are iornied with inward odsets 27 and 27L in the form ot notches. 'lwo spring devices 28 and 23a are disposed at opposite sides ot the pivotal anis of the plate 17, and in the torni ot construction herein illustrated, these spring devices diverge with respect toeach other in the same general direction as that in which 'the slots 26 and 26 diverge, the' divergence ot said spring: de-

ivergence ot said slots. 'lhese spring devices are provided at their inner Vends with shoes 29 and 29a, which shoes are slidably received in f the slots 26 and 26'l and are disposed at the lrod being inner ends ot said slots, when the switch is in the'open position, shown for instance in Fi s. 1, 2 and 3 Means are provided for ho ding the outer ends of the spring devices 28 and 28, in substantially a stationary manner, and in the preferred construction, the details described' below are followed. Each of the above-named spring devices comprises ka coiled compression sprin 30 and a rod 31 passing/therethrou h, the inner end oit thiswhich carries the shoe 29 or 29, which shoe may well be in the form of a rivet. 'llhe outer end of the rod 31 passes slid-ably and rather loosely through an opening in an t..- shaped bracket 32 which is connected with the casin wall 11. The outer end oit the spring 30ers against the bracket 32, while its inner end preferably abuts a washer 33 on the rod 31, said washer in turn abutting a cotter pin or the like 34C. Thus, the spring will exert its force to move the shoe 29 or 29 inwardly, hutthe extent of inward movement is limited by a cotter pin"- or Vlike 35 passing through the rod 31 and adapted to engage the bracket 32.

ln moving the switch iirorn its neutral position, the operation is as follows:

. The handle ttl is swung toward either set rovide with an odset head 31` ci the contacts d, as may be required, and ior Jillustrafzive purposes, Fig. d illustrates said handle swung in a manner to strain the spring device 23g. lUpon initial movement of the handle in this direction, 'from the neutral position shown in Figs. l, 2 and 3, the huh 13 tirst piclrs up and turns the plate 15. ylhen, when this plate has turned to the limit allowed hy the pin and slot connection 2dr-25, it in turn picks up and turns the plate 17, lVJhen this plate starts to move, the shoe 29 immediately seats in the odset 2794 oi the slot 26u, and the shoe 29 at the saine tinie is tree oit the oht 27 oi the slot 26. Thus, as the plate is further moved, the device 28 will remain inert, hut the spring 39 oli the spring device 23a will he placed under compression until the shoe 29u passes a dead center line extending through the anis oit the huh 13 and the opening ot the bracket 32. hitter this line is passed however, the spring 30 oit the device 293L again expands to some extent and exerts its 'orceto hold the switch in the closed pontion to which it has heen moved. rllhe spring device23 still remains inert but stands in readiness to check the plate 17 and associated parte, when the switch is opened.

'fo perform this opening' operation, the handle 1t is moved in the reverse direction from which it was moved to close the switch. Alter idling ot the handle to the extent permitted hy the lostmotion connecting means between said handle and the plate 17, this plate is started to switch-open p osition hy the handle, the rod 9 then serving to positively start the switch blades out of engagement with the co-acting contacts. By the time the shoe 29' passes the dead center line, the device 28*L quickly ex ands, 'thus rapidly forcing the plate 17 an associated parts to switch-open position, so that a quick break is produced. During this quick bleak action, the lost-motion connectine means between the operating handle and the ,plate 17, insures that said handle shall not jerk the operator-s hand. As soon as the plate 17 reaches switch-open position, the inner end of the slotv26 strikes the shoe 29, so that the device 28acomes into play to yield-ably check the movement ot said plate 17 and the switch parts connected therewith.

When the handle 14 is moved in its other switch-closing directiomthe device 28 functions n the same manner as above stated with regard to the spring device 28, and the device 28 remains inert, but stands in readiness to check the movement oit the plate 17 and associated parts, when the switch is again opened.

ltA 'will be seen from the foregoing that an extremely simple and inexpensive con-` struction has heen provideal tor carrying out the objects et the invention, and while the details disclosed have proven et excel Bti lent merit in actual use, it is to be understood that the invention is b no means restricted to such details. urthermore,

'while the improved switch-operating means starting, whereas the other spring deviceA would always remain in readiness to yieldably check the switch parts when moved to open position.

I claim:

l. In a switch-operating means, a handlecontrolled pivotally-mounted switch-actuating member, two springs slidably connected with said member in a manner to cause 'turning of said member in either of two switch-closing directions to strain one spring` and leave the. other inert, the connecting point between said member and the strained spring being adapted to move past a dead center line to hold said member in switch-closed position, the strained spring being also adapted to quickly throw the member to switch-open position when said member is initially started, the inert spring standing in readiness to yieldably check said member when the latter reaches switchopen position.

2. In a switch-operating means, a handlecontrolled pivotally-mounted switch-actuating plate having two elongated (guideways at opposite sides of its pivot an disposed at angles to a dialnetrical line through said pivot, two compression springs at said opposite sides of the plate pivot and extending in directions at angles to said guideways, and means Afor holdin the outer ends of said springs substantia ly stationarily, the inner ends of said springs being provided with shoes slidably engaged with said guideways, either of said shoes being adapted to remain Vstationary with respect to its respective guideway when switch-closing movement is imparted to the plate in a direction to compress the other spring, the shoe of said other spring being then adapted to move with its co-acting guideway to a position past dead center to hold the switch closed.

3. In a switch-operating means, a handlecontrolled pivotally mounted switch-actuating plate having two elongated guideways at opposite sides of its pivot and disposed at angles to a diametrical line through said pivot, said guideways having inward offsets at one end, a pair of compression springs at said-opposite sides of the plate pivot converging with said guideways toward the ofisets of the latter, and means for holding the outer ends of the springs substantially stationarily, the inner ends of said springs being provided with shoes slidable in said guideways and disposed at the offsets thereof when the switch stands open, the shoe of either spring being adapted to remain stationary with res ct to its respective guideway when ,switc -closing movement is imparted to the plate in a direction to compress the other sprin the shoe of said other spring being then a. apted to seat in its coacting oli'set and move therewith past a dead center position to hold the switch closed.

4. in a switch-operating means, a handlecontrolled pivotally-mounted switch-actuating plate having two elongated .guideways positioned at opposite sides of its pivot and disposed in diverging relation with each other, said guideways having inward offsets at their inner ends, two compression springs positioned at said opposite sides of the plate pivot and diverging in the same general direction as but more widely than said guideways, and means for holding the outer ends of said springs substantially stationarily, the inner ends of said sprin being provided with shoes slidable in said guideways and disposed at the inner ends of the latter when the switch stands open, the shoe of either spring being adapted to remain stationary with respect to its co-acting guideway when switch-closing movement is imparted to the plate in a direction to compress the other spring, the shoe of said other spring being t en adapted to seat in its co-acting o'set and move therewith past a dead center position to hold 'the switch closed.

5. In a switch-operating means, a handle- Icontrolled pivotally-mounted switch-actuating member, spring means connected with said member and active on opposite sides of a dead center line to either hold the switch closed or to rapidly complete opening of the switch when said member is initially started, and a bumper spring slidably connected to said member and adapted 'to .remain inert when said member is moved to close the switch, said bumper spring standing in readiness to yieldably check said member when the latter is thrown to switch-open position by the first named spring means.

6. In a switch-operating means, a handle-- controlled pivotally-monnted switch-actuating plate, spring means connected with said plate and active on opposite sides of a dead center line to either hold the switcl'i closed or to rapidly complete opening of the switch when initially started, said plate having an elongated uideway at an angle to a line radiating groin its pivot, 'plate-checking bumper spring provided with shoe one end siida. lv engaged with said guideway,

and means fogliolding the other end of the spring substantially stationarily, said shoe being stationary with respect to the guideway during switeh-opening and switch-closing movement of the plate and abutting one end of said guideway to cheek the plate when thrown to switch-open position by the first named spring means.

7. A switch comprising a easing having an opening in one side wall, a handle at the exterior oi said side wall having a hub passing rotatably through said opening, a plate at the inner side of said side Wall having an opening through which said hub passes, said plate bein@ connected With the hub to be turned by the handle, a second plate at the inner side of the first named plate havin an opening through which the aforesaid hu passes rotatably, a lost-motion pin-andslot connection between the two plates, a lug projecting' laterally inward from the second plate at an ott-center point, a switchoperating rod connected at one end with said lug, and spring means operatively associated with said second plate for rapidly completing movement of said rod after it has been initially started toward its destination.

In testimony Whereot I have hereunto affixed my signature.

GEORGE LA MONTE EAMMANN. 

